🥾 Walk 198 - Mapledurham Lock and Thames Path

Six of us met up at Mapledurham Lock on Saturday 12th December for a six mile walk. I think the weather put a few people off. It was very dull and grey. I'd been in two minds about going when I saw the weather forecast, which predicted heavy showers. In fact the walk was completed without a drop of rain falling on us and it wasn't even cold or windy.

The walk started by following the Thames Path west towards Pangbourne. Along the way we spotted what I thought was a heron, although this was more accurately identified as a cormorant by others in the group. We also saw a number of canoeists making their way along the Thames to Mapledurham.

Before reaching Pangbourne, we turned off the Thames Path and headed south. We passed under a railway bridge and emerged onto the A329 just on the outskirts of Pangbourne. Crossing the road we continued south, following Sulham Lane.

Just before reaching Sulham village, we took a footpath across a field into Sulham Wood. Turning left as we entered, we followed a northbound footpath, stopping off to have our picnic lunch where we'd found some fallen trees to use as benches.

After lunch we continued to follow the path through Sulham Wood up to Mosshall Wood, where we noticed some trees barely clinging on the ground as the soil was falling away. One or two were at an awkward angle with some of their roots hanging in thin air.

Leaving Mosshall Wood, we crossed a field and entered Purley-on-Thames. We followed Beach Road until it joined the A329, which we crossed and took a footpath between the houses that led us over the railway and through a field to Purley Village. This is where most of us had parked, so the group split up here rather than go up to Mapledurham lock and back. See our route on Bing Maps.

This was the first walk that Mark J had led for us and it went very smoothly. We were finished soon after one o'clock, leaving plenty of time to get on with other things, which was handy at this busy time of year.

Thank you to Julia for providing the photos.

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